leam in Taggart's eyes showed that such had been his
intention. "There wasn't to be no shootin' until after we'd held our
peace meetin'," he complained.

"Correct," said Calumet. "But the peace meetin' is now over. Get your
sky-hooks clawin' at the clouds!" he warned coldly as Neal hesitated.
When both had raised their hands above their heads he deftly plucked
their weapons from their holsters. Then, alert and watchful, he drew
the elder Taggart's rifle from its sling on the saddle and threw it a
dozen feet away.

"Now just step over to that bunch of mesquite," he ordered; "there's
somethin' there that I want to show you."

In obedience to his command they went forward. Both came to a halt
when around the edge of the mesquite clump they saw the dead body of
Sharp, with the handkerchief over his face. Neither recognized the man
until Calumet drew the handkerchief away, and then both started back.

"Know him, eh?" said Calumet, watching them narrowly. "Well, he done
his duty--done what you wanted him to do. But your man, Telza,
double-crossed him--knifed him." He took up the rapier-like blade that
he had drawn from Sharp's side and held it before their eyes. Again
they started, and Calumet laughed.

"Know the knife, too!" he jeered. "An' after what you've done you've
got the nerve to ask me to divvy with you."

The elder Taggart was the first to recover his composure.

"Telza?" he said. "Why, I reckon you've got me; there ain't no one of
that name--"

But Calumet was close to him, his eyes blazing. "Shut your dirty
mouth, or I'll tear you apart!" he threatened. "You're a liar, an' you
know it. Sharp told me about you settin' the Toltec on Betty. I know
the rest. I know you tried to make a monkey out of my dad, you damned
old ossified scarecrow! If you open your trap again, I'll just
naturally pulverize you! I reckon that's all I've got to say to you."

He walked over to Neal, and the latter shrank from the bitter
malignance of his gaze.

"Can you tell me why I ain't lettin' daylight through you?" he said as
he shoved the muzzle of his six-shooter deep into Neal's stomach,
holding it there with savage steadiness as he leaned forward and looked
into the other's eyes. "It's because I ain't a sneak an' a murderer.
I ain't ambushin' nobody. I've done some killin' in my time, but I
ain't never plugged no man who didn't have the same chance I had. I'm
givin' you a chance."

He drew out one of